Lantana plant named ‘Balucred’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lantana  plant named ‘Balucred’, characterized by its dark red-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Balucred’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantanaplant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Balucred’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in ArroyoGrande, Calif. during September 2013. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Lantana cultivars with early andcontinuous flowering, dark green-colored foliage, and a compact-moundedgrowth habit.

The new Lantana cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camarabreeding selection coded 2095, not patented, characterized by its darkred-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the newcultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedopen-pollination during April 2014 in a controlled environment in ArroyoGrande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceApril 2014 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balucred’ as a new and distinctcultivar of Lantana plant:

-   -   1. Dark red-colored inflorescences;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in growth habit. In the population of potential male parentsthere was none having all the characteristics of the plant of the newcultivar.

Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Lucky Flame ‘Balucraim’, notpatented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Balucraim’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have darker red-colored        inflorescences than plants of ‘Balucraim’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Balucraim’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balucred’. Theplants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balucred’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balucred’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in December 2015 undernatural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch attransplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70°F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F.to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levelsof 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during theday. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara cultivar ‘Balucred’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection            coded 2095, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            compact-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 11.0 cm. Width: Approximately 28.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances            branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:            Approximately 3.        -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong,            becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately 13.5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 2.7 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 144A. Color of            mature stem: 144A becoming woody N199A with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 10. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem.            Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            3.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Scabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Scabrous and glandular pubescence along venation.            Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface            of young foliage: 137A with venation of 147C to            indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and            mature foliage: Closest to 191A with venation of 147D. Color            of upper surface of mature foliage: closest to 137A with            139A, venation of 147C to indistinguishable.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and glandular            pubescence. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color:            144A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balucred’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 10 to 12 days from first color of outer            buds to dropping of last flower.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Corymb. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 5. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Aspect: Facing            upward or outward. Height: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width:            Approximately 3.7 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per            inflorescence: Approximately 24.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.            Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 5.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and            glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color: 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Salverform.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in            progression from the margin to the center of the            inflorescence. Quantity of unopened inflorescences per            plant: Approximately 4.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at            apex. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Color: 23C.        -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical petals.            Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape:            Obovate. Appearance: Dull. Aspect: Flat. Margin: Entire,            ruffled. Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper petal from throat:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Width of upper petal: Approximately            8.0 mm. Length of lateral petals from throat: Approximately            5.0 mm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Length of lower petal from throat: Approximately 5.0 mm.            Width of lower petal: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely            pubescent. Color of upper surface when first open: 15A with            an overlay of N25A. Color of lower surface when first open:            15D with an irregular overlay of N25A on margins. Color of            upper surface when fully open: N25A with 34A transitioning            with age to 34A with 45A. Color of lower surface when fully            open: N25D transitioning with age to 34D.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter at tube            opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Densely            pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with            a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs at tube            opening transitioning to glabrous at base. Gland color: 45A.            Color of inner surface: 11A. Color of outer surface: 145D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at tip: Approximately 1.5 mm.            Diameter at base: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture of inner            surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely            pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular            hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner            and outer surfaces: 145D.        -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape:            Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely            pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent.            Color of upper surface: 137A with 145A at base. Color of            lower surface: 137B with 145A at base.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, adnate            to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther            shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 1 mm.            Anther color: 13B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:            13D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil            length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma            length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: 144B, translucent.            Style length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color: 145D,            translucent. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary            color: 144B.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Lantana has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plantnamed ‘Balucred’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.